Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, supported the passage of S. 3373, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act. The legislation would ensure that veterans exposed to burn pits or other toxic substances during their military service would be automatically eligible for VA health care and disability benefits and improve research about and care for veterans impacted by service-related toxic substance exposure. The bill was approved by a bipartisan vote of 342-88 and now heads back to the U.S. Senate for final approval before going to President Biden for his signature to become law.
“In the past, the government has been too slow to recognize the link between exposure to toxic substances and the health problems suffered by our veterans. Because of this, they and their families have been denied the benefits and disability compensation needed for medical treatment and to provide for their care,” said Congressman Bishop. “I am proud to support this crucial, bipartisan bill and send it to President Biden for his signature. The Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act will make good on our promise to provide support and take care of our military service members who have bravely sacrificed so much for our country.”
The S. 3373, the Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act would:
- Open up access to VA health care to 3.5 million Post-9/11 combat veterans potentially exposed to deadly toxins;
- Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure and create a streamlined framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;
- Add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to the VA’s list of service-connected presumptive illnesses;
- Grant presumptions of service connection related exposure for veterans with rare cancers and other debilitating diseases;
- Expand coverage for illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure and include Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;
- Improve VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and
- Set VA and veterans up for success by investing in:
- VA claims processing;
- Recruiting and retaining VA’s workforce; and
- Expanding VA’s healthcare infrastructure via leases.
Original source can be found here.
